Accelerator braking module

Abstract

An accelerator pedal operated braking system for an automatic transmission vehicle; said braking system including monitoring of angular data and angular rate of change data of an accelerator pedal of said vehicle; said system further including a control module and an actuator acting on the brake pedal of said vehicle; said braking system responsive to said angular data and angular rate of change data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An accelerator pedal operated braking system for an automatic transmission vehicle; said braking system including monitoring of angular data and angular rate of change data of an accelerator pedal of said vehicle; said system further including a control module and an actuator acting on the brake pedal of said vehicle; said braking system responsive to said angular data and angular rate of change data wherein said actuator of said vehicle is connected to said brake pedal; said actuator responsive to said angular status and angular rate of change as monitored by said control module of said system; said actuator arranged to depress said brake pedal from a default zero applied braking force position to at least a percentage of a maximum applied braking force position and wherein, while said engine is initially in idle mode and said braking system is in activated mode, a first zone of rotation of said accelerator pedal from a default non-rotated angle to a first rotated angle causes said actuator to gradually reduce braking force from a maximum applied braking force to zero applied braking force; said first zone of rotation forming a first portion of said movement of said accelerator pedal during which an increase in engine RPM is insufficient to urge said vehicle into motion. 
     
     
       2. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein said braking system is triggered to apply at least a percentage of maximum braking force when a negative angular rate of change of said accelerator pedal exceeds a predefined threshold value. 
     
     
       3. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein said angular data and said angular rate of change data of said accelerator pedal are monitored by a potentiometer responsive to rotation of said accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       4. The braking system of  claim 3  wherein said potentiometer is an original equipment potentiometer of an electronically enabled accelerator pedal or an potentiometer retrofitted to said accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       5. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein said control module receives a signal from said vehicles' engine management system; said signal indicating instantaneous said angular status and angular rate of change of said accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       6. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein, while said braking system is in activate mode, operation of said accelerator pedal is modified from a standard default operating mode in which all movement of said accelerator pedal varies RPM of an engine of said vehicle, to an operating mode in which a portion of movement of said accelerator pedal has no effect on said engine RPM. 
     
     
       7. The braking system of  claim 5  wherein, while said engine is in idle mode such that said accelerator pedal is in a default fully retracted position, and when said braking system is in activated mode, said actuator acts on said brake pedal to apply maximum braking force. 
     
     
       8. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein the braking system, while said braking system is in activated mode, has a second zone of rotation of said accelerator pedal from said first rotated angle to a second rotated angle that forms a second portion of said movement of said accelerator pedal during which said system applies zero braking force. 
     
     
       9. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein, while said braking system is in activated mode, said braking system has a final zone of rotation of said accelerator pedal from said second rotation angle to a maximum rotated position controls change of said engine RPM to full power. 
     
     
       10. The braking system of  claim 3  wherein signals from said potentiometer are routed through said control module to said engine management system of said vehicle; said control module modifying said signals to divide rotation of said accelerator pedal into first, second and third zones. 
     
     
       11. The braking system of  claim 10  wherein when said system is enabled and said engine of said vehicle is on, during rotation of said accelerator through said first zone extending from zero rotation to a first angle of rotation, said braking force applied by said system decreases from a maximum to zero braking force, and wherein engine RPM remains at idle during said rotation. 
     
     
       12. The braking system of  claim 10  wherein during rotation of said accelerator pedal through said second zone engine RPM remains at idle; rotation through said third zone increasing engine RPM from idle to full power. 
     
     
       13. The braking system of  claim 10  wherein said control module provides for said final zone of rotation to control engine RPM over the same range as the range over full movement of said accelerator pedal when said braking system is in deactivated mode. 
     
     
       14. The braking system of  claim 9  wherein, while said braking system is activated and said vehicle is in motion and while said pedal angle is in said final zone of rotation, a negative rotational change of said accelerator pedal towards said second rotation angle at said angular rate of change exceeding said predefined threshold value, causes said actuator to act on said brake pedal to apply at least said percentage of maximum braking force. 
     
     
       15. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein said system is switchable from a deactivated mode to an activated mode by means of a control cluster mounted proximate to an operator of said vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The braking system of  claim 15  wherein said control cluster includes a selector for selection of said at least a percentage of said maximum braking force. 
     
     
       17. The braking system of  claim 14  wherein, while said system is in said activated mode, contact of an operator's foot with said brake pedal switches said system to a deactivated state. 
     
     
       18. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein said control module is provided with an input port for connection of a programming device; said programming device provided with software enabling customization of operating parameters of said system. 
     
     
       19. The braking system of  claim 1  wherein, when a stall situation is detected, and said braking system is in activated mode, the brakes remain applied until the vehicle engine is restarted, and wherein starting said engine after a stall event deactivates said braking system. 
     
     
       20. An accelerator pedal operated braking system for an automatic transmission vehicle; said braking system including monitoring of angular data and angular rate of change data of an accelerator pedal of said vehicle; said system further including a control module and an actuator acting on the brake pedal of said vehicle; said braking system responsive to said angular data and angular rate of change data wherein said angular data and said angular rate of change data of said accelerator pedal are monitored by an encoder responsive to rotation of said accelerator pedal wherein signals from said encoder are routed through said control module to said engine management system of said vehicle; said control module modifying said signals to divide rotation of said accelerator pedal into first, second and third zones and wherein when said system is enabled and said engine of said vehicle is on, during rotation of said accelerator through said first zone extending from zero rotation to a first angle of rotation, said braking force applied by said system decreases from a maximum to zero braking force, and wherein engine RPM remains at idle during said rotation. 
     
     
       21. The braking system of  claim 20  wherein during rotation of said accelerator pedal through said second zone engine RPM remains at idle; rotation through said third zone increasing engine RPM from idle to full power. 
     
     
       22. The braking system of  claim 20  wherein said control module provides for said final zone of rotation to control engine RPM over the same range as the range over full movement of said accelerator pedal when said braking system is in deactivated mode.